Buckle

ABSTRACT

A buckle for connecting two belt-like members includes a pair of side frame portions; a first cross bar extending between the side frame portions; a second cross bar extending between the side frame portions and disposed between the first cross bar and end portions of the side frame portions; and a finger hooking portion formed in a tongue shape projecting from the second cross bar toward the end portions of the side frame portions. One of the two belt-like members is inserted between the side frame portions from a back side of the buckle, and is taken out to a front side of the buckle. Then, the one belt-like member passes between the first cross bar and the second cross bar to the back side of the buckle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

The invention relates to a buckle having an improved structure for connecting two belt-like members.

Patent Documents 1 and 2 have disclosed buckles formed in a frame shape as a whole and having four cross bars extending between a pair of side frames. In the buckles, a belt-like member is wound around one of two cross bars between cross bars at both ends, and another belt-like member is wound around the other of the two cross bars, so that the belt-like members are connected with each other through the buckle. A finger hooking plate portion is formed on one end of the buckle. A finger is hooked on the finger hooking plate portion to lift the one end of the buckle, so that the belt-like members are disconnected.

In the conventional buckles, the finger hooking plate portion is formed of a plate shape piece integrally projecting sideward from one of the four cross bars located at one end of the buckle. Accordingly, when a finger tries to find the finger hooking portion, even if a fingertip touches an edge portion of the finger hooking plate portion, it is difficult to recognize the edge portion of the finger hooking plate portion just through touching. Also, when a fingertip is hooked on the finger hooking plate portion, the fingertip tends to slip away from the finger hooking plate portion upon lifting.

-   -   Patent Document 1: Japanese Design Registration No. 675371     -   Patent Document 2: Japanese Design Registration No. 938391

In view of the problems described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a buckle in which it is easy to find a finger hooking portion with a fingertip for releasing belt-like members. Also, even if the fingertip is lightly hooked on the finger hooking portion, it is possible to securely release the belt-like members.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain the objects described above, according to the present invention, a buckle for connecting two belt-like members includes a pair of side frame portions; a first cross bar extending between the side frame portions; a second cross bar extending between the side frame portions and disposed between the first cross bar and end portions of the side frame portions; and a finger hooking portion formed in a tongue shape projecting from the second cross bar toward the end portions of the side frame portions. One of the two belt-like members is inserted between the side frame portions from a back side of the buckle, and is taken out to a front side of the buckle. Then, the one of the two belt-like members passes through between the first cross bar and the second cross bar to the back side of the buckle, and is wound around the first cross bar to fasten the two belt-like members. When the two belt-like members are disconnected, a finger is hooked on the finger hooking plate portion from the back side of the buckle to lift the finger hooking plate portion. The finger hooking plate portion is formed such that the end portions of the side frame portions are positioned ahead of an edge portion of the finger hooking plate portion connected to the side frame portions and heading toward the end portions.

With the structure described above, when a finger tries to find the finger hooking plate portion to release the buckle, a fingertip moves along the edge portion of the finger hooking plate portion heading toward the end portions of the side frame portions, and a side of the fingertip touches an inner surface of the side frame portion. Accordingly, it is possible to easily find the finger hooking plate portion through a single searching operation without repeating such an operation as described above. Also, when the finger is hooked on the finger hooking plate portion to lift the buckle, the inner surfaces of the side frames are positioned on both sides of the fingertip. Accordingly, the finger does not slip away from the finger hooking plate portion upon lifting. Especially, even if the finger is lightly hooked on the finger hooking plate portion, the finger does not slip away from the finger hooking plate portion.

According to the present invention, the edge portion of the finger hooking plate portion heading toward the end portions of the side frame portion may be formed such that the edge portion projects forward at a center of the finger hooking plate portion to form a mountain shape. In this case, when the fingertip slides along the edge portion of the finger hooking plate portion heading toward the end portions of the side frame portion, it is easy to find the center of the finger hooking plate portion. Accordingly, it is easy to hook the finger on the center of the finger hooking plate portion.

According to the present invention, surfaces of the side frame portions may be positioned ahead of surfaces of the finger hooking plate portion at the front side and back side of the buckle. In this case, the finger hooking plate portion can be protected by the side frame portions. Accordingly, when the buckle is stepped from the front side or the back side, the finger hooking plate portion is protected from being damaged as much as possible.

According to the present invention, the end portions of the side frame portions are positioned at a position substantially same or outer side of the edge portion of the finger hooking plate portion heading toward the end portions of the side frame portions at any position of the edge portion. In this case, the finger hooking plate portion can be protected by the side frame portions. Accordingly, when an outer force is applied to the buckle from a projecting side of the finger hooking plate portion, it is possible to prevent damage to the finger hooking plate portion as much as possible.

According to the present invention, in the buckle for connecting two belt-like members, when the two belt-like members are disconnected, it is easy to find the finger hooking plate portion through touching with a finger. Also, even if the fingertip is lightly hooked on the finger hooking portion, it is possible to securely release the buckle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a buckle R;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the buckle R;

FIG. 3 is a back side view of the buckle R;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the buckle R;

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the buckle R;

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the buckle R;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a use state of the buckle R; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a use state of the buckle R.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereunder, embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. FIGS. 1 through 8 show a buckle R having a structure according to the present invention. FIG. 9 shows a state where two belt-like members W are connected through the buckle R. FIG. 10 shows a state where a finger hooking plate portion of the buckle R is operated to release one of the belt-like members W from the buckle R.

The invention relates to a structure of the buckle R for connecting the two belt-like members W. More specifically, the invention relates to a structure of a finger hooking plate portion of the buckle R for connecting the two belt-like members W through the buckle R.

The buckle may include a structure in which two through-portions are provided and each of the belt-like members passes through the through-portions to connect each other, respectively; or a structure in which a male buckle having a through-portion for passing one of the belt-like members W and a female buckle having a through-portion for passing the other of the belt-like members W are provided, and the male buckle engages the female buckle so that the belt-like member W passing through the through-portion of the male buckle and the belt-like member W passing through the through-portion of the female buckle are connected with each other. (In the buckle R with this structure, there are, typically, a side release type buckle where an operational direction for releasing the engagement between the male buckle and the female buckle is a lateral direction; and a front release type buckle where the operational direction for releasing the engagement between the male buckle and the female buckle is a front side direction.)

In the embodiment, the buckle R includes two through-portions 2 for passing the belt-like members W, so that each of the belt-like members W passes through the two through-portions 2, respectively, to connect with each other.

In the buckle R, a fingertip F is hooked on a portion of the buckle R to lift a side on which the fingertip F is hooked, so that one of the belt-like members W passing through one of the through-portions 2 is released. In the specification, the side of the buckle R where the fingertip F is hooked for a hooking operation is called as “a side of a finger hooking portion 1”.

On the side of the finger hooking portion 1, the buckle R includes:

-   -   (1) a pair of side frame portions 3;     -   (2) a first cross bar 4 extending between the side frame         portions 3;     -   (3) a second cross bar 5 extending between the side frame         portions 3 and disposed between the first cross bar 4 and end         portions 30 of the side frame portions 3; and     -   (4) a finger hooking plate portion 10 with a tongue shape         projecting from the second cross bar 5 toward the end portions         30 of the side frame portions 3.

One of the belt-like members W is inserted between the side frame portions 3 from a back side Rb of the buckle R and taken out to a front side Ra of the buckle R. Then, the one of the belt-like members W passes through between the first cross bar 4 and the second cross bar 5, and is taken out again to the back side Rb of the buckle R to wind around the first cross bar 4, thereby being fasten thereto.

In the embodiment, on a side of end portions 31 of the side frame portions 3, there are provided with a third cross bar 6 extending between the side frame portions 3, and a fourth cross bar 7 extending between the side frame portions 3 and disposed between the third cross bar 6 and the first cross bar 4. As shown in the drawings, the buckle R is formed in a frame shape with the side frame portions 3 and the first through fourth cross bars 4 to 7. The other of the belt-like members W is inserted between the side frame portions 3 from the back side Rb of the buckle R, and taken out to the front side Ra of the buckle R. Then, the other of the belt-like members W is taken out again to the back side Rb of the buckle R through a space between the third cross bar 6 and the fourth cross bar 7 to wind around the fourth cross bar 7, thereby being fasten thereto.

In the embodiment, the side frame portions 3 are formed in an elongated plate shape. End surfaces 32 on one side of the side frame portions 3 in the longitudinal direction are gently curved, and end surfaces 33 on the other side in the longitudinal direction become an inner side of the curve. The end surfaces 32 on the one side in the longitudinal direction are on the front side Ra of the buckle R, and the end surfaces 33 on the other side in the longitudinal direction are on the back side Rb of the buckle R.

In the embodiment, a front surface 40 of the first cross bar 4 is positioned on a plane same as the end surfaces 32 of the side frame portions 3 on the one side in the longitudinal direction. A side surface 41 of the first cross bar 4 facing the second cross bar 5 extends along a thickness direction of the buckle R, and a first corner portion 42 is provided between the front surface 40 and the side surface 41. A space is formed between the first cross bar 4 and the end surfaces 33 of the side frame portions 3 on the other side in the longitudinal direction.

A back surface 50 of the second cross bar 5 is positioned on a plane same as the end surfaces 33 of the side frame portion 3 on the other side in the longitudinal direction. A portion of a side surface 51 facing the first cross bar 4 at the back side Rb extends along the thickness direction of the buckle R, and a second corner portion 52 is provided between the back surface 50 and the side surface 51. A space is formed between the second cross bar 5 and the end surfaces 32 of the side frame portions 3 on the one side in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 7, a space is provided between the first cross bar 4 and the second cross bar 5 and has a size for passing one of the belt-like members W smoothly. A distance between a projected line y passing along the first corner portion 42 in the thickness direction of the buckle R and a phantom line x passing along the second corner portion 52 is smaller than the space between the first cross bar 4 and the second cross bar 5.

When one of the belt-like members W is wound around the first cross bar 4 as described above, a front pulling-out portion Wa directly contacts the back surface of the buckle. When a back pulling-out portion Wb at an outer side of the front pulling-out portion Wa is pulled, the front pulling-out portion Wa is strongly pressed against the second corner portion 52 by the back pulling-out portion Wb. Accordingly, the one of the belt-like members W is fastened to the buckle R (refer to FIG. 9).

From the fastened state described above, when a finger is hooked on the finger hooking plate portion 10 from the back side Rb of the buckle R to lift the side of the buckle R provided with the finger hooking plate portion 10, the front pulling-out portion Wa moves away from the back pulling-out portion Wb to thereby release the one of the belt-like members W from the buckle R (refer to FIG. 10). In the released state, when the one of the belt-like members W is taken out from the buckle R, the belt-like members W are disconnected. After adjusting a length of the front pulling-out portion Wa, when a finger is released from the buckle R, it is possible to fasten the one of the two belt-like members W to the buckle R at an adjusted position.

In the present embodiment, the finger hooking plate portion 10 has a plate edge portion 11 heading toward the end portions 30 of the side frame portions 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the plate edge portion 11 is connected to the side frame portions 3 at plate edge portions 12, and the end portions 30 of the side frame portions 3 are positioned ahead of the plate edge portions 12.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, when a finger tries to find the finger hooking plate portion 10 to release one of the belt-like members W from the buckle R, the fingertip F slides along the plate edge portion 11 of the finger hooking plate portion 10 heading toward the end portions 30 of the side frame portions 3. In this case, a side portion of the fingertip F touches the inner surfaces 34 of the side frame portions 3 positioned ahead of the plate edge portion 11 of the finger hooking plate portion 10. Accordingly, it is possible to find the finger hooking plate portion 10 with a single operation.

Further, when the finger is hooked on the finger hooking plate portion 10 to lift the buckle R as described above, the fingertip F is positioned between the inner surfaces 34 of the side frame portions 3. Accordingly, the finger does not slip away from the finger hooking plate portion 10 in the lifting operation. Especially, even if the fingertip F is lightly hooked on the finger hooking plate portion 10, the finger does not slip away from the finger hooking plate portion 10.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the plate edge portion 11 of the finger hooking plate portion 10 is formed in a mountain shape with a forward projecting portion at a central portion of the finger hooking plate portion 10. Accordingly, it is easy to find the center portion of the finger hooking plate portion 10 when the fingertip F slides along the plate edge portion 11 of the finger hooking plate portion 10. It is also possible to securely hook the finger on the center portion of the finger hooking plate portion 10.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, at the front side Ra and the back side Rb of the buckle R, the end surfaces 32 and the end surfaces 33 of the side frame portions 3 are positioned outside a surface 13 of the finger hooking plate portion 10. Accordingly, the side frame portions 3 protect the finger hooking plate portion 10. When the front surface side Ra or the back surface side Rb of the buckle R is stepped upon, it is possible to prevent damage on the finger hooking plate portion 10.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, in any portion of the plate edge portion 11 of the finger hooking plate portion 10, the end portions 30 of the side frame portions 3 are positioned at a substantially same position as the plate edge portion 11, or outside the plate edge portion 11. Accordingly, the side frame portions 3 protect the finger hooking plate portion 10. When an outer force is applied to the buckle R from a projecting side of the finger hooking plate portion 10 with respect to the buckle R, it is possible to prevent damage on the finger hooking plate portion 10.

In the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, one end of the finger hooking plate portion 10 is integrally connected to a front portion 53 of the second cross bar 5 positioned at the front side Ra of the buckle R. Left and right sides of the finger hooking plate portion 10 are integrally connected to the inner surfaces of the side frame portions 3 to thereby extend toward the end portions 30 of the side frame portions 3. The finger hooking plate portion 10 also includes a finger hooking surface 14 at the back side Rb of the buckle R.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-367588, filed on Oct. 28, 2003, is incorporated in the application.

While the invention has been explained with reference to the specific embodiments of the invention, the explanation is illustrative and the invention is limited only by the appended claims. 

1. A buckle for connecting two belt-like members, comprising: a pair of side frame portions having end portions; a first cross bar extending between the pair of the side frame portions; a second cross bar extending between the pair of the side frame portions and disposed between the first cross bar and the end portions of the side frame portions; and a finger hooking plate portion formed in a tongue shape and projecting from the second cross bar toward an end side of the end portions of the side frame portions, said finger hooking plate portion having side end portions attached to the side frame portions and located away from the end portions of the side frame portions.
 2. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein said first and second cross bars are arranged such that one of the two belt-like members is inserted between the pair of the side frame portions from a back side of the buckle to a front side of the buckle and passes through a space between the first cross bar and the second cross bar to the back side of the buckle to wind around the first cross bar, and when the finger hooking plate portion is lifted up from the back side of the buckle, the belt-like member tightened by the buckle is released to allow the belt-like member to slide with respect to the first cross bar.
 3. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein said plate edge portion of the finger hooking plate portion has a mountain shape such that a central portion of the finger hooking plate portion projects forward.
 4. A buckle according to, claim 1, wherein said side frame portions include upper and lower surfaces positioned outside upper and lower surfaces of the finger hooking plate portion on the front side and back side of the buckle, respectively.
 5. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein said end portions of the side frame portions are always positioned at a substantially same position or away from the side end portions of the finger hooking plate portion.
 6. A buckle according to claim 2, further comprising at least one third cross bar attached to the side frame portions at a side opposite to the second cross bar relative to the first cross bar for connecting another belt-like member.
 7. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein said second cross bar is integrally formed with the finger hooking plate portion. 